Page 80 of Pick Yourself Up
“Is the asshole bothering your woman still in jail?”
He nodded. “He is. And he’s no longer under the protection of the Lauzons.”
Nash grinned. “Good. He deserves to rot uncomfortably. Are you planting?”
Gray nodded and flipped the camera view to show his progress. “I’ve got the gardens mostly planned out. Paths and benches. A few play spaces.”
“Looking good. Are you happy there?”
He flipped the camera again. “Very. You might be too.”
Nash’s eyebrows shot up. “Me? In Vermont?”
Gray nodded. “It’s a great place, Nash. I think Charlie would love it here.”
That had his buddy’s eyes softening. Alice was a single dad, having lost his wife in childbirth. Charlie was his whole world.
“And what is a bartender going to do on an apple farm?”
“Cider.”
Alice blinked a few times. “Cider?”
“Yep. Knox and his family love this place and are looking for ways to make it better, to diversify and create new income streams. We’ve got millions more apples than we know what to do with. I figure you could take your brewmaster expertise and play with the apples. I can plant other fruits for you to experiment with. Hell, I’ll plant anything you need.”
“You guys have snow.”
Gray laughed. “Any day now. I’m looking forward to it.”
Nash patted his heart. “You’re from Florida, man. We southern men don’t do snow.”
“It’s going to be fun. Charlie would agree.”
Nash rolled his eyes with a grin. “Of course he would. He’s ten.”
“Smart kid. How’s he doing?”
Nash’s eyes clouded. “Okay. Things at school have been a bit rough, but okay. His best buddy moved away, and he’s taking it hard.”
Gray grinned. “Sounds like time for a new adventure for you both.”
Boomer barked, and Gray turned to see the dog and Amber approaching.
Nash laughed. “From the sappy look on your face, that’s gotta be your lady.”
He walked toward Amber. “It is. You got a minute to meet her?”
“Not much more. Charlie’s bus will be here soon.”
Gray reached out his free hand, and Amber took it, questions in her eyes. He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Alice is on the phone. I want you to meet him.”
He widened the camera view, so they were both on screen. “Amber, this is Nash, fondly known as Alice.”
Nash smiled. “Nice to finally meet you, Amber. Glad you’re safe. If you ever need help kicking this guy’s ass, I’m your man.”
Amber laughed and leaned into Gray’s side. “Nice to meet you, Nash.”
Boomer barked, and Gray squatted down to put him on the screen too. “You want to meet my buddy, Boomer? This is Nash. Friend.”
